Tempers Flare Over Ill-Tempered Sword Remarks

msaulters writes "The Austin American Statesman is reporting on Daniel Watson, a Hays County swordsmith who is suing a group of San Francisco-based techies, charging that they extorted him by posting negative comments regarding his sword-making business on the discussion forums they host and then offering to clamp down on such comments if he bought advertising with them. On the one hand, this sounds very chilling, as the defendants, Sword Forum International, are very well-known and respected in the world of sword-making, and abuse of that position would be very un-cool. On the other hand, they make some valid points in the article, and historically, the ability to express your opinions freely online is one aspect of the internet that arguably should never be curtailed."

I have a Daniel Watson sword

[LordNimon]

It wasn't cheap ($1,500), but it's an excellent piece of workmanship. I haven't figured out how to do it myself, but Daniel (or any of his staff members) can shave (that's right, shave) a 3x5 index card with my sword.

Daniel is a cool guy, and as far as I'm concerned, anyone who would say bad things about his work is just a complete asshole. If you want to meet Daniel, just go to any major Texas renaissance festival.

Re:Magic?

[crisco]

The Wayback Machine's [archive.org] archive of the site includes this little bit about Living Steel that doesn't seem to appear on the site now:

Magic

Living Steel also gathers, focuses and transmits a low frequency electromagnetic energy similar to that which our bodies run on, similar perhaps to the way in which a ruby focuses a laser. This is a measurable phenomenon that can also be felt by the human body. In ancient times there was no explanation for this other than magic. It is still magic today.

"Living Steel" - yeah, right

[Animats]

• Living Steel also gathers, focuses and transmits a low frequency electromagnetic energy similar to that which our bodies run on, similar perhaps to the way in which a ruby focuses a laser. This is a measurable phenomenon that can also be felt by the human body. In ancient times there was no explanation for this other than magic. It is still magic today.

Yeah, right.

Back in my SCA days, one local sword maker described how he did it. He started with blanks intended for use as auto leaf springs. After suitable grinding, he had them heat treated. This was Cleveland when it had steel mills. He went to a heat treating shop, handed over the sword blade, said "ASTM Process 50, 4 hours". They said "It'll be ready Thursday". The result was far better than anything in period; you could cut through logs with those blades without damaging them.

Re:Why not demand money back or else

[GigsVT]

The truth can still be extortion, but only under narrow circumstances.

Extortion usually requires the threat of a criminal act. As long as the speech is not libellous, then it is legal. Even if it was libellous, it would have to be subject to criminal libel laws, not just civil ones. Of course this varies from state to state, talk to a lawyer if you want legal advice.

http://www.lectlaw.com/def/e073.htm
EXTORTION - The use, or the express or implicit threat of the use, of violence or other criminal means to cause harm to person, reputation, or property as a means to obtain property from someone else with his consent. USC 18

Blackmail and extortion laws are generally written very carefully, they do not apply to most of your run-of-the-mill situations.